The Luminescence Foundation Inc
The Luminescence Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Marshall, Virginia. In 2024, it reported 56 grants totaling $2,762,980 to charitable organizations, including health-care, research, education, and animal-welfare organizations.
The Luminescence Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Luminescence Foundation Inc gave $2.8M across 56 grants in 2024 (avg $49K), top state New York. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,762,980
- -13.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 56
- -37.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $49,339
- +38.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $14,925
- Total assets
- $30,862,587
- -0.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (16 of 56, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New York (29% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Luminescence Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2125 Hatchers Mill Road, Marshall, VA 20115
Phone: (540) 687-6644
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Luminescence Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Mayo Clinic ($667K). Together the top 10 received $1.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
370 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 293 grants of 370 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars went to recipients in New York (29%), Virginia (27%), and Minnesota (24%), followed by Maryland (9%) and Texas (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Luminescence Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 16 of 56 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $22K; repeat grants $60K. How we count
Medians: $18K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 64% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 39% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 96% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $1.9M (2020) to $3.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 56 grants totaling $2.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | General | $666,667 |
| Weta Winchester, VA | General | $200,000 |
| Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, NY | General | $200,000 |
| New York Presbyterian Fund Inc New York, NY | General | $200,000 |
| Promise Project FCNY New York, NY | General | $150,000 |
| The University of Texas MD Anderson Houston, TX | General | $100,000 |
| Brightfocus Foundation Clarksburg, MD | General | $100,000 |
| Middleberg Humane Foundation Marshall, VA | General | $97,825 |
| American Prairie Reserve Bozeman, MT | General | $83,333 |
| The ALS Association Rockville, MD | General | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Luminescence Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $30,862,587 | $6,259,577 | $4,045,650 | $2,762,980 | 56 | $2,825,044 | $2,768,845 | $2,936,034 |
| 2023 | $31,072,313 | $9,617,394 | $4,205,791 | $3,201,105 | 90 | $3,234,574 | $8,254,262 | $2,423,966 |
| 2022 | $25,594,610 | $1,660,965 | $4,259,620 | $3,006,785 | 104 | $3,049,972 | $681,889 | $2,787,931 |
| 2021 | $28,180,315 | $16,707,356 | $2,913,697 | $1,988,600 | 87 | $2,028,516 | $12,920,570 | $2,824,406 |
| 2020 | $17,289,251 | $13,054,229 | $2,487,486 | $1,879,930 | 33 | — | $1,287,837 | $2,056,530 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Luminescence Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $2.9M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in health care and medical research, cancer and ALS research, Alzheimer’s disease and eye-disease research, education, and animal welfare. For example, Mayo Clinic describes its mission as providing patient care, education, and research; BrightFocus Foundation says it funds research on Alzheimer’s disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma; and Middleburg Humane Foundation describes work to protect animals through assistance, education, and intervention.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 56 grants totaling $2,762,980. Grants ranged from $500 to $666,667, with a median of $14,925.
The largest reported grants included $666,667 to Mayo Clinic; $200,000 each to WETA, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and New York Presbyterian Fund Inc; and $150,000 to Promise Project FCNY. Other grants included $100,000 each to The University of Texas MD Anderson and BrightFocus Foundation, and $97,825 to Middleburg Humane Foundation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Zohar Ben-Dov as president/director; Lisa Ben-Dov as vice president/director; Christy Martin as secretary/treasurer; and Tamar Ben-Dov, Ariella Ben-Dov, Andrew Albstein, Seth Brufsky, Talia Spanier-Baker, and Arnold Koonin as directors.
The Luminescence Foundation Inc is led by Zohar Ben-Dov, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Zohar Ben-Dov
President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Andrew Albstein
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Ariella Ben-Dov
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Arnold Koonin
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Lisa Ben-Dov
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Seth Brufsky
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Talia Spanier-Baker
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Tamar Ben-Dov
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Christy Martin
Secretary & Treasurer
Director → Secretary & Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Luminescence Foundation Inc
How much does The Luminescence Foundation Inc give each year?
The Luminescence Foundation Inc gave $2.8M across 56 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.2M across 90 grants.
What is The Luminescence Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Luminescence Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $14,925, and its average grant was $49,339, across 56 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Luminescence Foundation Inc that year got $22K on average.
Where does The Luminescence Foundation Inc give grants?
The Luminescence Foundation Inc's top state is New York, with 29% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (27%) and Minnesota (24%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (10 grants), Winchester, VA (3 grants), Marshall, VA (3 grants) and Washington, DC (3 grants).
Does The Luminescence Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 93% of The Luminescence Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (52 of 56) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Luminescence Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Luminescence Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Mayo Clinic ($666,667), Weta ($200,000) and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Luminescence Foundation Inc?
The Luminescence Foundation Inc reported $30.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does The Luminescence Foundation Inc fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2024 grantees include organizations working in health care and medical research, cancer and ALS research, Alzheimer’s disease and eye-disease research, education, and animal welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Luminescence Foundation Inc?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Luminescence Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Luminescence Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 54-1989253. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Luminescence Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Luminescence Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Dun Foundation
Middleburg, VA
Dun Foundation’s 2025 grants supported varied charitable organizations, including those connected with outdoor activities, wildlife and habitat, equestrian events, and education. It made 103 grants totaling $470,000, ranging from $25 to $44,500, with a median of $1,873; half of grant dollars went to Virginia, with others reaching several states. The available information does not clearly state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$2.0M
Grants
103
Total Given
$470K
Aetna Foundation Inc
Hartford, CT
Aetna Foundation supported health and wellness, access to health care, and related community needs; its 2021 grants ranged from $5,000 to $1 million, with a median of $40,000, and went to organizations across multiple states, especially in D.C. and Connecticut. Its 2021 filing was marked final, so it appears to have ended or be winding down grantmaking; that filing said there were no restrictions on who could apply and pointed applicants to its website for application materials.
Assets
—
Grants
65
Total Given
$7.2M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
The Yelp Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$6.2M
Grants
644
Total Given
$886K
Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco the Peninsula Marin & Sonoma
San Francisco, CA
The Federation funds Jewish life and identity, antisemitism response, crisis relief, human services, and justice and inclusion, with work in the Bay Area, Israel, and beyond. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,050 to $2,405,915, with a median of $22,750. It frequently issues requests for proposals and welcomes inquiries about new Bay Area programs; no current organization grant opportunities were listed.
Assets
$2.0B
Grants
1,032
Total Given
$94.5M
Marin Community Foundation
Novato, CA
Marin Community Foundation funds work in affordable housing and homelessness, community resilience and power, as well as social services, education, arts and conservation, with a focus on marginalized Marin County residents and some broader U.S. and international grantmaking. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, though amounts varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
1,573
Total Given
$186.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Virginia
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Luminescence Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-luminescence-foundation-inc-morg_2339a1ee1aba4861aef7a5cf56de50b9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_541989253_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Luminescence Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-luminescence-foundation-inc-morg_2339a1ee1aba4861aef7a5cf56de50b9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Luminescence Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Luminescence Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?